IT'S SEVEN SHARP. TONIGHT ` IT'S A BIG ASK,... IT'S LIKE PUSHING ALL MY STUFF, AND IT'S KINDA MESSING WITH ME A LITTLE BIT. ...BUT EMILY'S PROVED GOOD THINGS CAN COME IN SMALL PACKAGES. SHE'S QUITE A COMEDIENNE, TOO. MAKES PEOPLE LAUGH, EH. PLUS WE'RE IN TAIWAN WITH THE WORLD'S OLDEST HIP-HOP GROUP, WHO'VE COME ALL THE WAY FROM WAIHEKE ISLAND. TO GET IN THE GROUP YOU HAD TO BE 65 OR OVER AND HAVE A PULSE. ALL SCREAM FIERCELY AND A CROSS THEY HAVE TO BEAR. THEY'VE GOT NO CLUES FOR US. CAN YOU HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY? WE'RE REALLY KEEN TO CONTACT THAT FAMILY. ONE NEWS CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND SARAH MAIAVA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2014 DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF SEVEN SHARP, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. Last night you question what people did over 80. You had a very difficult day. You chucked a spaz. Look at that. She says people allegedly picking on her. She's gone to the other side with Her misery. It's got something to do with that. . I don't know what to say to that. I will have the last word. HERE'S WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE TODAY ` AND EVER THE SHOWMAN, AC/DC DRUMMER PHIL RUDD PUT ON A BIZARRE PERFORMANCE TODAY AS HE APPEARED AT A TAURANGA COURT. ACCUSED OF POSSESSING DRUGS AND THREATENING TO KILL, HE ARRIVED LATE, WAS PIGGYBACKED TO HIS CAR, AND REVERSED HIS CAR INTO THE PATH OF A TRUCK. FORGET ABOUT A DO-UP VILLA TO GET INTO THE HOUSING MARKET; THE WHOPPING WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE IN THE UK IS ON THE MARKET FOR AROUND $14M. BUT IT COULD COST YOU ANOTHER $84M TO GET THE 365 ROOMS AND 8KM OF CORRIDOR BACK UP TO SCRATCH. AND MOVE OVER, BARBIE. THERE'S A NEW GIRL IN TOWN THIS CHRISTMAS. FROZEN'S 'ELSA' HAS OVERTAKEN THE BLONDE BOMBSHELL AS THE TOP TOY FOR GIRLS. LEGO STAYS IN TOP SPOT FOR BOYS. I love that song. The simple things in life are good. LET'S START WITH SOMETHING TO INSPIRE US ALL. EMILY (12) IS ONE OF THOSE KIDS WHO IS ALL FUN AND LAUGHTER WHEN YOU MEET HER, BUT SHE IS ALSO IN URGENT NEED OF TREATMENT. SHE HAS DWARFISM, A DODGY HEART AND A SPINE THAT'S GETTING SO BADLY DEFORMED THAT HER LUNGS COULD SOON COLLAPSE. THE USUAL TREATMENT IS SURGERY. BUT EMILY'S PARENTS WANT TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE, FOR GOOD REASON, AS GILL HIGGINS FOUND OUT. ROCK MUSIC JUST LIKE HER BFF, EMILY IS A TYPICAL 12-YEAR-OLD. LOVES FASHION, LOVES EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. DON'T WE GET TO SEE IN YOUR WARDROBE? (CHUCKLES) NO, IT'S QUITE MESSY. BUT YOU'LL HAVE NOTICED ` SHE'S SHORT. A FORM OF DWARFISM MEANS SHE'S ONLY JUST OVER 110CM. IT MAKES LIFE A CHALLENGE, BUT SHE LOVES IT, ESPECIALLY THE SWEET STUFF. STARBUCKS FRAPPUCCINOS, AND MACARONS. SHE'S A VERY INSPIRING YOUNG LADY, ISN'T SHE? SHE'S QUITE A COMEDIAN, TOO. SHE MAKES PEOPLE LAUGH, EH? # WE LIKE FRENCH TOAST. YEAH, WE LIKE FRENCH TOAST. # DEFINITELY A SUGAR THEME GOING ON WITH YOU. YES. BOTH LAUGH OH YES, GET YOUR POSE. HER ZEST FOR LIFE IS ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH. FIVE YEARS AGO, AS WELL AS A BADLY CURVED SPINE, AND SERIOUSLY DAMAGED HEART, SHE HAD CLUB FEET. SOME PEOPLE STARE AND SAY, 'YOUR BOOT IS ON THE WRONG WAY ROUND,' AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE, 'NO, IT'S NOT. IT'S THE RIGHT WAY ROUND.' WELL, TO ME IT IS. SO SINCE WE LAST SAW YOU, SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING'S HAPPENED, HASN'T IT? YES, I GOT MY FEET FINALLY FIXED. I CAN GO SHOE SHOPPING FOR PROPER SHOES. THE SOLUTION THEY WERE FIRST OFFERED WAS HORRIFYING. SO WE WERE GIVEN OPTION OF AMPUTATION. BUT THE SURVIVAL AFTER A MAJOR SURGICAL INTERVENTION LIKE THAT, THE OUTCOME WASN'T GREAT. THAT'S BECAUSE EMILY'S HEART ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH. JO DID SOME RESEARCH, DIDN'T YOU? ESPECIALLY NON-SURGICAL METHODS, AND CAME ACROSS A METHOD THAT WAS BEING USED, AND TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS FAIRLY NEW IN NZ. THE SIX-MONTH PROCEDURE INVOLVED CASTS AND TWISTING, SLOWLY REALIGNING HER FEET. FINDING SOMEONE TO DO IT WAS THE BIGGEST HURDLE, BUT THEY DID. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR LOCAL SURGEON FOR DOING THAT FOR US. < HOW DID YOU CONVINCE HIM? I TOOK CHOCOLATE. (LAUGHS) THE FACT THAT EMILY'S FEET, IT WORKED, HAS BLOWN EVERYBODY AWAY. ENERGETIC POP MUSIC THAT SUCCESS HAS GIVEN THEM CONFIDENCE TO TACKLE THE NEXT, EVEN GREATER PROBLEM ` THE 110-DEGREE CURVE IN HER SPINE. IT'S, LIKE, PUSHING MY STUFF, AND IT'S KIND OF MESSING WITH ME A LITTLE BIT. IF WE DON'T CORRECT EMILY'S SPINE, IT WILL SHORTEN HER LIFE. AND IT WOULD SERIOUSLY HELP THIS TWEEN BECOME A TEEN. I REALLY STRUGGLE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO FIT THE ADULTS' CLOTHES. IT REALLY BUGS ME. AGAIN, THEY DON'T WANT SURGERY, BUT THEY'VE FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE ` THE SCHROTH METHOD. IT DOESN'T LOOK MUCH, BUT THIS EXTREME PHYSIO, DONE EVERY DAY, HAS SHOWN GREAT RESULTS. REALLY INTENSE, AND I THINK WE'LL GET A RESULT WITHIN FOUR MONTHS. THIS NEEDS TO WORK. SURGERY IS TOO DANGEROUS. SHE KNOWS THAT HER AORTA COULD GO AND SHE'LL DIE, AND SHE KNOWS THAT THIS PHYSIO, THIS IS IT. I'M REALLY, LIKE REALLY EXCITED TO GO AND GET IT, UM... WHY AM I DOING THIS? OK. (LAUGHS) ...MY BACK STRAIGHT. GOING AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BUT WORTH IT. I HAVE ALWAYS GONE WITH MY INSTINCT WITH EMILY, AND IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, I WILL CHALLENGE IT. THE TRICK WOULD BE TO FOLLOW THAT INSTINCT UP WITH SOME RESEARCH, AND DO YOUR RESEARCH AND ASK QUESTIONS. OH, EM, THAT'S AWESOME. SO FAR IT'S PAID OFF ` FEET AS GOOD AS NEW, EVEN THE CHANCE FOR SCHOOL. MOST KIDS WOULD GO, EW, SCHOOL. I LOVE SCHOOL. I'VE MADE A LOT OF REALLY COOL FRIENDS. DO YOU THINK YOU MAKE A PRETTY GOOD FRIEND? LET'S JUST SAY I THINK I'M A GOOD FRIEND, AND IF I'M NOT, SORRY. (LAUGHS) I DON'T THINK SHE NEEDS TO WORRY. HIGH FIVE. UH, NO. SHE IS VERY MOTIVATED, SHE DOESN'T GIVE UP AND... SHE'S CRAZY AS WELL. COME ON, BREAK IT OUT! SO HERE'S TO A STRAIGHT SPINE. IT MEANS A LONGER LIFE, AND EMILY'S SURE GOT A LOT OF LIFE TO LIVE. I'M, LIKE, HIGH ON LIFE, HIGH ON LIFE. # YOUR LOVE IS LIFTING ME HIGHER # THAN I'VE EVER BEEN LIFTED BEFORE. # What an articulate kid. . But done so well. TO DONATE, GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` TALK ABOUT BEATING THE ODDS. SEVEN OF THEM HAVE DEMENTIA. ANOTHER SEVEN OF THEM ARE DEAF. ONE OF THEM'S LEGALLY BLIND. SOME OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DIDN'T ACTUALLY WANT THEM TO DO THIS TRIP. DESPITE ALL THAT, THE HIP OP-ERATION CREW ARE READY TO GO ON STAGE A VERY LONG WAY FROM HOME. THEY'RE GOING TO PERFORM AS THE ONLY WESTERNERS. AND THE MYSTERY HOLDING UP PROGRESS. CHECK THIS OUT. Your husband David gave these to you today.because you had a domestic. We didn't. . He got you the wrong flavour. That's your entire bag of chips. It's clearly a mistake. The normally way better than that. It's a shame Fair Go's not on. IF YOU WERE IN YOUR 80S, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ULTIMATE HOLIDAY? A CRUISE? A GOLF TRIP? OR IF STREETY'S BABYMOON LAST WEEK IS ANY INDICATION, LOTS OF 'FUN' WALKS? FOR A BUNCH OF GOLDEN OLDIES FROM WAIHEKE ISLAND, THOSE OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY THE WALKS, COULDN'T BE MORE BORING. A trying to get back on my good books? SURELY YOU'VE HEARD BY NOW OF THE HIP OP-ERATION CREW. THEY'RE THE GERIATRIC DANCERS FROM WAIHEKE WHO'VE ALREADY MADE WORLD HEADLINES. THEY'VE TAKEN THE STATES. NOW THEY'RE GEARING UP FOR THEIR FIRST BIG GIG IN ASIA. SOUNDS EXHAUSTING FOR ANY AGE. JEHAN CASINADER AND CAMERAMAN BYRON RADFORD WENT FOR THE RIDE. 'CORONATION STREET' THEME MUSIC WE'RE USED TO SEEING OLD PEOPLE AGE GRACEFULLY, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM DO. THEY'RE A BUNCH OF RATBAGS. THEY WANT TO GET UP TO MISCHIEF, SO THEY GO OFF AT NIGHT AND GET ON THE DRINK. ARE YOU ON DRUGS AT THE MOMENT? NOT AT THE MOMENT. THEY GET LOST AND THEY LOSE THEIR STUFF. THEY MAY NOT BE YOUNG, BUT THEY ARE RESTLESS. I THINK IT WAS 36 HOURS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY HAD A SLEEP. MEET THE HIP HOP-ERATION CREW FROM WAIHEKE ISLAND. TO GET IN THE GROUP, YOU HAD TO BE 65 OR OVER AND HAVE A PULSE. THAT'S IT. DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE BLIND, DEAF, GOT NO LIMBS. DOESN'T MATTER. MANY OF THESE RETIREES WERE RELUCTANT RECRUITS. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, HIP-HOP?! ISN'T THAT FOR KIDS, YOU KNOW, ROUND ON THEIR HEADS AND DOING FLIPS? BUT THEY MADE HEADLINES WHEN THEIR FLASH MOB WENT VIRAL. WHY NOT GIVE IT A CHANCE? WHY NOT GIVE IT A GO? NEXT STOP, THE WORLD CHAMPS IN VEGAS. AND NOW THEY'RE HERE IN TAIPEI, A CITY THAT HAS AS MANY PEOPLE IN IT AS THE WHOLE OF NZ. THEY'RE HERE TO TAKE THE STAGE AT A MAJOR FESTIVAL. THEY'RE GOING TO PERFORM AS THE ONLY WESTERNERS. FOR MONTHS THEY'VE BEEN SAVING UP THEIR PENSIONS FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME. I WAS DREADING IT A LITTLE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SO CROWDED. A LOT OF THEM SAID, 'I COULDN'T EAT THE FOOD, AND I'M REALLY SCARED.' DID I EVER THINK I'D COME TO TAIPEI? NEVER. I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SCOOTERS IN MY LIFE IN ONE PLACE. YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. SEVEN OF THEM HAVE DEMENTIA. ANOTHER SEVEN ARE DEAF. ONE IS LEGALLY BLIND. SOME OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DIDN'T ACTUALLY WANT THEM TO DO THIS TRIP. THE ORGANISERS WERE NERVOUS TOO. THEY SAID, 'WE'LL GET WESTERN FOOD AND GET THEM IN THEIR COMFORT ZONE.' AND IT'S, LIKE, 'NO, THEY NEED THE OPPOSITE. 'GIVE THEM A DUCK'S TONGUE FOR BREAKFAST, YOU KNOW.' THEY CALL BILLIE THE GRANNY WHISPERER. IT LOOKS LIKE DUCK TESTICLES. SHE CREATED THIS MOTLEY CREW. CAN YOU SMELL IT? SHE WANTED TO GIVE THEM A NEW LEASE OF LIFE. EVEN IF YOU'RE 95, YOU WANNA DO STUFF YOU'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. AND THEY'RE LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS. THEY'RE EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGY. THEY'RE FACEBOOKING. THEY'RE PHOTOBOMBING. BOTH: OH YES. COURSE WE ARE! WHO ISN'T? THEY'RE DOING THEIR SELFIES. BOTH LAUGH WHAT A CONTRAST WITH THE LOCALS. THE LOCAL SENIORS ARE MORE SHY AND MORE INTROVERTED. THEY HOLD A LOT OF THEIR EMOTIONS IN. AND DEFINITELY THE HIP OP-ERATION IS FAR FROM BEING INTROVERTED. TOO MANY OF THESE CUSTARD BUNS. (LAUGHS) THEY'RE JUST LIKE THE ENERGISER BUNNY; THEY JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING AND GOING. SOME OF THE CREW'S ANTICS HAVE LANDED THEM IN TROUBLE IN THE PAST. I'VE HAD TO KICK OUT SOME PEOPLE. ONE FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE IN A PUBLIC PLACE. SHE FLASHED HER TITS. ANOTHER ONE FOR BEING UNDERAGE. SHE WAS LYING ABOUT HER AGE TO GET INTO THE GROUP. TWO YEARS AGO DOCTORS WARNED THAT SOME OF THESE GUYS WERE CLOSE TO DEATH. BUT THEY'RE STILL ALIVE, AND IT'S JUST CRAZY. THE MESSAGE HERE, I SUPPOSE, IS NEVER SURRENDER TO YOUR AGE, RIGHT? LIKE, YOU'RE 95? I'LL BE 95 NEXT WEEK. I'M ONLY 94. (LAUGHS) IF ANY OF THEM CARK IT WHILE THEY'RE IN TAIWAN, THEY'VE AGREED TO BE CREMATED. COS IT'S MUCH CHEAPER TO BRING BACK AN ICE CREAM CONTAINER THAN IT IS, LIKE, A BIG BLIMMIN' BODY. BUT NO ONE'S GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL THEY'VE HAD THEIR SIX MINUTES OF GLORY. WE GOT A LOT OF AUDIENCE. THEY ARE COMING TO THE SHOW BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS. I MAKE YOU VERY FAMOUS IN TAIWAN. THEY KNOW THIS EVENT IS A BIG DEAL. THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR LIVES. BUT WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW YET IS JUST HOW BIG THIS ARENA IS. WE DON'T WANT TO BLOW IT. HIP-OP CREW! COME HERE! YOU HAVE TO COME BACK! They're amazing. 95 and taking on Asia. And taking on hip hop. TOMORROW NIGHT WE'RE WITH THE CREW FOR THEIR BIG MOMENT; CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF THEY PULL IT OFF. BUT NEXT ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE CONSTRUCTION'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE APRIL. IN THAT TIME, THERE HAS BEEN FLOWERS LAID AT THE SITE. BUT BY WHO? THE MYSTERY THAT'S STOPPED AN AIRPORT IN ITS TRACKS. WE'RE REALLY KEEN TO CONTACT THAT FAMILY. PLUS ` WHICH OF OUR FLASH NEW BANK NOTES WANTS TO BE SPENT THE FASTEST? SO THIS IS THE ITCHIEST NOTE? WE'VE TAKEN THEM TO AN EXPERT. CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT NEEDS YOUR HELP TO UNRAVEL A MYSTERY. I think it's the best in country. REDEVELOPMENTS BEYOND THE NORTH-WESTERN RUNWAY MEAN A CROSS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WILL NO LONGER BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE AIRPORT WOULD LIKE TO GRANT THE FAMILY ACCESS IN THE FUTURE, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. MIKE THORPE WITH THE MYSTERIOUS CROSS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRONIC MUSIC THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES PASS THIS LONE WHITE CROSS EVERY DAY, YET, TO DATE, THE MEANING OF IT AND THE PEOPLE IT MEANS MOST TO REMAIN A MYSTERY. WE'VE TRIED THE POLICE, WE'VE TRIED THE COUNCIL, AND THEY'VE GOT NO RECORDS OF IT. SOON THESE WINDING DOG-LEGS OF POUND RD WILL WIND NO MORE, AND THIS SEEMINGLY TRAGIC SITE WILL BE OFF-LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC, BUT NOT THE UNKNOWN OWNERS OF THE CROSS. WE'LL WORK WITH THE FAMILY TO, ONE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSTRUCTING IN THE AREA AND WE'RE RESPECTFUL OF THE SITE, BUT, TWO, THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM ACCESS TO A SITE THAT THEY CAN REMEMBER WHAT HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY. DO YOU KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE STILL VISITING THIS SITE? YES, SO THE CONSTRUCTION'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE APRIL, AND IN THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN FLOWERS LAID AT THE SITE. AMATEUR DETECTIVE WORK SUGGESTS IT COULD BE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD, DUE TO THE LACK OF POLICE RECORDS. THAT LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S PRE-1985, WHEN I BELIEVE THAT THE RECORDS STARTED. SO IT'S EARLY TO MID-'80S IS WHAT WE BELIEVE. SO FAR THEY'VE TRIED THIS SIGN, ADVERTISING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, EVEN RADIO, ALL TO NO AVAIL. WE'VE ALSO INTERVIEWED AND SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF OUR STAFF, youSOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 40-ODD YEARS, AND THEY'VE GOT NO CLUES FOR US. WE'RE REALLY KEEN TO CONTACT THAT FAMILY. SO MAYBE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE. MAYBE YOU CAN HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF THE CROSS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE MEMORIAL THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO REMEMBER. SO IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CROSS, YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON WHO TO CONTACT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. Why did I have to take to Twitter to get help from my followers? . She had a piece yesterday that was ludicrous. It was beneath your talent. We need to fix that. I mean told by the producers that that was a compliment. SO YOU'LL BE AWARE THAT THE RESERVE BANK HAS RELEASED SOME NEW MONEY. They wouldn't give us new money. LOOKS SIMILAR, BUT THE COLOURS ARE BRIGHTER AND THE TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED. AND HAVING HAD A LOOK, MOST OF US HAVE FORMED AN OPINION. BUT IF WE KNOW WHAT WE THINK OF THE NEW MONEY, WHAT DOES IT THINK ABOUT ITSELF? TURNS OUT, SOME MONEY WANTS TO BE SPENT MORE THAN OTHER MONEY. WITH OTHERS, DESTINED TO BE SAVED. HERE'S TIM WILSON. OUR NEW CASH HAS MORE FLASH. BRIGHTER, BOLDER, BUT IS IT BETTER? AND WILL WE GET RICHER? # IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. # BRENDA STANFORD IS A COLOUR THERAPIST. HER JOB, HER CALLING ` INTERPRETING THE COLOURS THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE. $10. I THINK IT'S GOING TO CIRCULATE QUITE NICELY. IT'S GOING TO MOVE OUT OF YOUR WALLET. OH, REALLY? IT WILL MOVE AROUND IN A HAPPY, JOYFUL KIND OF WAY. IN A HAPPY WAY? YOU WON'T BE IN A HURRY TO GET RID OF IT. BUT YOU WON'T BE SAD TO SEE IT GO EITHER. SO, EACH OF THESE COLOURS AFFECTS YOUR SPENDING PATTERNS? I THINK THEY WILL. 20 BUCKS. QUITE VIVID. IT IS. THEY'RE ALL VERY VIVID. AND, TO BE HONEST, ARE THEY TRYING TO JOIN OUR CURRENCY WITH AUSTRALIA? I` OH. THIS IS AWKWARD. (LAUGHS) $100. IT'S FUNNY THAT THE 100 IS RED. THE FASTEST-MOVING, THE ONE THAT'S GONNA WANT TO RUN OUT OF YOUR WALLET THE FASTEST. SO THIS IS THE ITCHIEST NOTE? THIS AND THE 5. IF YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO YOUR PIGGY BANK, I'D BE SLIPPING IN A 20 OR A 50. 20 OR A 50. SHOULDN'T YOU BE LOCKING THESE PUPPIES UP? NO, THEY'D BE WANTING TO BREAK OUT. WELL, YOU'VE JUST GOT TO HOLD THEM DOWN. IS THAT THE WAY YOU'D TREAT A CHILD? (LAUGHS) WHY NOT? (WHIMPERS) SO, ALL OF THIS COLOUR AND VIGOUR... WHAT DOES IT REMIND YOU OF? IT'S A BIT LIKE MONOPOLY, ISN'T IT? MONOPOLY MONEY? YEAH. REALLY? DON'T YOU THINK? CASH REGISTER DINGS A lot of people have never seen the 50 or hundred dollar bill. IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, ISN'T IT? YOU'RE TIRED, YOU'RE DREADING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, HAVEN'T STARTED THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT SHOPPING, AND AT NIGHT, YOU HAVE TO-DO LISTS COMING OUT THE WAZOO. SOME OF YOU MIGHT ALREADY BE DREADING GETTING TOGETHER WITH FAMILY MEMBERS; TYPICALLY THEY'RE THE PEOPLE WHO PUSH YOUR BUTTONS AND RUB YOU UP THE WRONG WAY. BUT FOR SOME OF YOU, LIKE ME, THE PERSON THAT ANNOYS YOU THE MOST AT THIS STRESSFUL TIME IS THE PERSON YOU SIT NEXT TO AT WORK. AND FOR MOST OF US, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM VIRTUALLY UP UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY. SO HERE ARE A FEW TIPS I'VE FOUND TO NOT MAIM OR INJURE ANYONE. ONE, JUST FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS, LET THAT WORKMATE BELIEVE HE OR SHE IS RIGHT ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW THEY'RE BARKING MAD. TWO, REMEMBER THEY ARE THE MINORITY. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE AREN'T ACTUALLY THAT WEIRD AND ANNOYING. THREE, ASK YOURSELF WHY THEY'RE HITTING OUT OVER CHRISTMAS CHEER. THEY'RE PROBABLY DEEP DOWN JUST REALLY SAD. AND, FOUR, DON'T CANCEL THAT CHRISTMAS BAKING YOU WERE PLANNING TO DO FOR THE WHOLE WORK TEAM. JUST LEAVE THAT ONE PAINFUL PERSON OUT IN THE COLD AS YOUR PARTING MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS CHEER. I couldn't agree more. YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS TONIGHT THE CONCERN OVER OUR POPULATION. THE CALL HAS GONE OUT TO 'DO SOMETHING' ABOUT THE GROWTH IN AUCKLAND. MIGRATION IS BOOMING. THEY'RE FLOODING INTO THE COUNTRY BECAUSE WE'RE ON SUCH A ROLL, AND MOST OF THEM ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND. CAN I POINT OUT A COUPLE OF REALLY SIMPLE THINGS? ONE, WHEN A COUNTRY THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC SIZE AS BRITAIN AND JAPAN WORRIES ABOUT ITS 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE BEING A PROBLEM, WE'VE LOST THE PLOT. AND, TWO, YOU CAN NEVER TELL PEOPLE WHERE TO LIVE. PEOPLE LIVE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE AND WHERE THE WORK IS. AND, THREE, AUCKLAND ISN'T REALLY BY AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD A LARGE CITY. IT HAS 1.5 MILLION, NOT SIX. SPEND SOME TIME IN TOKYO OR LOS ANGELES OR LONDON AND COME BACK TO ME ABOUT BIG AND BUSY CITIES. LET'S WORRY ABOUT STUFF THAT'S WORTH WORRYING ABOUT. WE COULD PACK FIVE TIMES OUR POPULATION INTO THIS COUNTRY AND STILL HAVE ROOM. AND LET'S JUST BE PLEASED THEY'RE FLOODING IN; A MIGRATION BOOM IS A SIGN WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. CAPTIONS BY PIPPA JEFFERIES AND JESSICA BOELL. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2014